second paragraph

The other important part of college, the social sphere, would not be as welcoming as the academic community to Meursault for many reasons. Meursault’s indifferent temperament would be puzzling to most as they would seek his emotion in serious situations. For example, in the novel, the lawyer examining Meursault is upset at the fact that Meursault does not show any sadness towards his mother’s death. Meursault says, “He asked if I had felt any sadness that day. The question caught me by surprise and it seemed to me that I would have been very embarrassed if I’d had to ask it,” (Camus 65). The lawyer’s reaction shows how most would probably respond to Meursault’s absent sense of feeling. In today’s society, especially in college where students are trying to make friends based on first impressions, people do not want to associate themselves with others unlike themselves. So, Meursault, unlike most, would most likely have some issues trying to befriend others. However, to say that Meursault would be completely rejected in social crowds would be too extreme. Of course there would be a select few people, like Marie or college professors, that would appreciate Meursault’s peculiar character. Moreover, at the end of the novel, the reader sees the side of Meursault that had been hidden until he realizes what kind of person he is. His true feeling’s about his mother’s death finally surface and the reader learns to appreciate the way he perceives the world. “For the first time in a long time I thought about Maman...So close to death, Maman must have felt free then and ready to live it all again. Nobody, nobody had the right to cry over her,” (Camus 122). Better late than never, the reader finally learns why Meursault was so hesitant to show sadness over his mother’s death. Through this realization Meursault shows that he really does love his mother. The reader’s view of Meursault was skewed because his treatment of the the death lacked emotion. However, his lack of heartache was his way of showing appreciation for his mother. So, if others could understand Meursault’s thought process then maybe he wouldn’t be seen as an outsider in a college setting.